Gassin' out the wife!

Hey! I wanna have gas too. What am I doing wrong?

Hey Jim, Unlike the common misconception that DSers are the only WLS that may have potential gas issue, the reality is that any malabsorbtive surgery (JIB, DS, and RNY) have that potential. Gas is caused when undigested food enters the large intestines and is attack by bacteria. The smell is increased by the fact that most WLS patients eat a high protein diet, protein increases the amount of sulfer produces..hence the more pungent smell. There are several things you can do to help eliminate gas: 1. Elimination diet. There are often foods in your diet that produce more gas then others. Some WLS patients become lactose intollerant after surgery or after several months after surgery, others find that there are certain "trigger" foods that set them off. In my case, I can't eat sugar alcohol at all...well unless I want revenge on my family...lol. Other things that set people off vary, simple sugars, certain veggies (broccoli), beans, etc. The key is to find what sets you off, and eliminate it. 2. Start taking probiotics. Probiotics in general help keep the natural balance of good bacteria in your intestines, this in turn helps control bad bacteria which is what causes most of the gas. There are several good ones out there, you'll have to find the one that works best for you. In this area, it seems that some probiotics work very well for certain people, but not for others. There are 2 that seem to work well, Ultra Primal Defense (by garden of life), and Culturelle. You can get both on line, and at some natural food stores. 3. Someone mentioned devrom, in MHO, it's a waste of money. You have to take above the recommended dose with every meal, just to get an effect, and in most people it doesn't work, plus it's extremely expensive (esp. when taking 4 pills per meal). If you want to try a body deoderizer, you can try Pepto Bismo (the hard chews), it has the same basic ingredients. You can take 2 with each meal, and it will help absorb the sulfer in your intestines, plus it has an "antibiotic" effect. You might want to be careful with this product though, because some RNYers struggle with constipation, and this would increase that issue. 4. If all else fails, you can go on a short term stint of an antibiotic. Flagyl seems to be the antibiotic of choice for this issue. Basically it kills off the good and bad bacteria in yoru intestines, hence eliminating the gas issue. You will have to repopulate the good bacteria with a probiotic, and may develop DHR during the course of flagyl. 5. you can put an air purifier in your room. This is the keep it simple stupid method....if you are not suffering gas most of the day, this might be the best option. They are relatively cheap, and you can get one that you wont' have to buy replacement filters. 6. Realize everyone farts, and people just have to deal with it. Prior to surgery, my wife would make me sleep in another room or go to another room herself because my gas was so bad. I actually was a bit ignorant that there were things you could do about it...i figured, i was a guy and guys fart...lol. It just takes being a bit proactive and you can bring this issue under control. Hope this helps Scott

Hi Scott, I thought I saw Pepto Bismol on the list of drugs to avoid post RNY, but not sure. Anyone know? Dave

Beats wetting the bed. I saw an ad yesterday for an cushion made with activated charcoal. What a waste of a good fart!!! Perhaps there are matresses. Dan's again wise in his suggestions... enjoy the many blessed opportunities that our surgery provides including "supermarket sweeps." Fart on, bro... Dave

Jim, Gas and odor issues are quite common among "ByPassers." mostly it's during that first year... Here are some facts and some ways of dealing with them. Can be "leftover excess protein," but most often The issue is carbohydrates that are incompletely digested By your bypassed guts, And end up in the colon undigested and therefore Are digested by bacteria in your large intestine, Which turn it into large volumes of often smelly gas. These are some Thoughts: -- Identify which foods are your particular problem. For most, white bread and pasta, and ESPECIALLY Pasta that has been cooked and then chilled (chilling turns the hydrated starch into a particularly indigestible form) Are the worst, and the main thing you can do is avoid these foods. Fresh pasta is much less "gas producing" than dried, Frozen, chilled, etc. -- Certain vegetables can be problematic. Typically, broccoli and other crucifers, Eggplant, onions in significant quantities, Especially raw onions and beans. Beans can sometimes be managed by putting Beano on them - Beans contain a carbohydrate called raffinose Which is completely indigestible to humans, But the Beano contains an enzyme that digests it. They claim it helps with other carbohydrates too. -- Many adults become lactose intolerant As they get older, and the undigested lactose Causes gas and diarrhea. Lactaid milk or lactase as the enzyme Added to dairy products can help. Note that yogurt and many cheeses (particularly hard cheeses) Shouldn't cause a problem because The fermentation process metabolizes the lactose. If you decide to eat "gas producing" food anyway, Here's how you can improve the problem some: -- Take Gas-X Or other simethicone-containing OTC medication To keep the volume down. Or just for the odor- -- Take Devrom (parthenoninc.com) That does help some... Or Innermint (innermint.com) Many swear by it. Or "Nullo," Chlorophyll extract that works great, But I don't know if they sell online. If these measures do not bring your problem under control, Particularly if you also have loose stools, You may have an overgrowth of bad bacteria in your intestine. This is fairly common in folks with a malabsorptive procedures. You may need to get a prescription for Flagyl, And take it for an extended course, at least a month. Some people take it in low doses (prophylactically) all the time. You should talk to your surgeon about how much and how often, But it's longer and stronger than what a "normal" person would take. Note that Flagyl is chemically related to Antabuse, The drug that is given to alcoholics to help them quit drinking - (If you drink alcohol while taking Flagyl, you can get very sick.) And while you're taking Flagyl, And for at least weeks afterwards, You will need to take a probiotic -- Acidophilus, Lactobaccilus, Reuteri, for example, To repopulate your guts with good bacteria. You can also help the good bacteria in your intestines By taking one or two tablets of probiotics. Acidophilus bacteria really helps with the smells. You can also get these good bugs by eating live culture yogurt. Gas is controllable by controlling what is eaten. This need not be a constant problem. If you can figure out what causes your issues, You will be able to control it. I had problems at first- (around fifth month) After several rounds of Anti-Biotics Then after using Flagyl and Lactobaccilus, No problem since. Just Normal intestinal output. Hope these help some, Best Wishes- Dx

Thanks Dex, and all. This will help, I'm sure. I have been over-doing it a bit on the carbs lately.